System and process for automatically explaining probabilistic predictions
First Claim
1. A method in a computer system for determining an influence of at least one possible user choice on at least one prediction of likely user choices, comprising using a computer to perform the following steps:
- a step for predicting at least one likely user choice based on a probabilistic model and a set of preferences for the user;
a step for determining the influence of at least one of the possible user choices on the prediction of at least one likely user choice by calculating probabilistic explanation scores for each of at least one possible user choice, said explanation scores representing a probabilistic impact of predictor/variable value pairs on a posterior distribution corresponding to the prediction of each likely user choice;
a step for sorting the explanation scores; and
a step for providing one or more of the sorted explanation scores via a user interface.
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Abstract
The system and method of the present invention automatically assigns “scores” to the predictor/variable value pairs of a conventional probabilistic model to measure the relative impact or influence of particular elements of a set of topics, items, products, etc. in making specific predictions using the probabilistic model. In particular, these scores measure the relative impact, either positive or negative, that the value of each individual predictor variable has on the posterior distribution of the target topic, item, product, etc., for which a probability is being determined. These scores are useful for understanding why each prediction is made, and how much impact each predictor has on the prediction. Consequently, such scores are useful for explaining why a particular prediction or recommendation was made.
53 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method in a computer system for determining an influence of at least one possible user choice on at least one prediction of likely user choices, comprising using a computer to perform the following steps:
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a step for predicting at least one likely user choice based on a probabilistic model and a set of preferences for the user;
a step for determining the influence of at least one of the possible user choices on the prediction of at least one likely user choice by calculating probabilistic explanation scores for each of at least one possible user choice, said explanation scores representing a probabilistic impact of predictor/variable value pairs on a posterior distribution corresponding to the prediction of each likely user choice;
a step for sorting the explanation scores; and
a step for providing one or more of the sorted explanation scores via a user interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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4. (canceled).
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10. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, a method for automatically assigning scores to members of a set of at least one predictor/variable value pair representing likely user choices, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a set of user preferences for a particular user;
computing predictor/variable value pairs for each possible user choice using the set of user preferences in combination with a probabilistic model;
computing at least one prediction of likely user choices based upon the predictor/variable value pairs;
calculating explanation scores for at least one of the predictor/variable value pairs for each prediction;
determining the influence of at least one member of the set of predictor/variable value pairs for each prediction based upon the scores calculated for the predictor/variable value pairs; and
wherein at least one explanation score is provided via a user interface as part of natural language explanation for explaining why each prediction of likely user choices was made. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. (canceled).
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17. A method in a computer system for displaying on a display device automatically identified positive and negative influences on recommendations of likely user choices, the method comprising steps for:
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automatically computing predictor/variable value pairs for each possible user choice using a set of user preferences in combination with a probabilistic model;
automatically providing at least one recommendation of likely user choices based upon the predictor/variable value pairs;
automatically calculating an influence of each possible user choice for each recommendation based upon scores calculated for the predictor/variable value pairs, said scores representing a probabilistic impact of each possible user choice on a posterior distribution representing a probability of each recommendation; and
wherein the influence of at least one possible user choice on the at least one recommendation of likely user choices is provided in a human readable format via a user interface. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification